Take the girl out of Georgia but you can’t take the Georgia out of the girl, right? Or something like that. Maybe it’s because of where I was born (even for only having been there for 3 years). Maybe it’s because of the tan skin that screams, “she’s been out in the sun.” Maybe it’s the liberating feeling that summer gives, but I’m not a fan of fall.

In fact, I’m not a fan of winter either while we’re at it. If any of you have a Facebook, chances are you’ve at least stumbled across one post in the past week or two with a big fall-ish picture plastered and captioned with something like “Who’s ready for this?” Or maybe you have a friend that posts a status here and there about how they can’t wait for sweaters and bonfires and the color orange and the flavor pumpkin and blah blah blah. I’m sure most people that come across this article might choose to exit out because they find that they too love the season fall.

Whenever I’m asked the question, “what’s your favorite season?” my reply is always: summer. The conversation then carries on to how the other person doesn’t like the summer because it’s too hot. Some people prefer spring because it isn’t cold but it’s not hot, some people like the fall because they like hoodies and it’s still somewhat warm from the summer but not hot, and then you get the rare person that likes winter. I know of probably one person in the last category and I’m always aghast that that’s their favorite season.

Simply put, there are so many reasons I have a distaste for the fall. One, it means the weather is getting colder. Tell me all you want that fall weather is still somewhat warm, you eventually will hit winter. Then you have snow and ice and everyone becomes so amazed until they have to drive in it. Two, while the color change in the leaves is quite the sight, it also means the leaves will fall off leaving the trees barren. Yes, I know. This is the natural order of things, leaves are supposed to fall off, so on and so forth. But the sight of trees with no leaves just brings me sadness. It’s dumb, I know, but I prefer to see trees with green leaves or even orange/red ones. Instead you hit winter and you see nothing but tree bark and stems. Three, we enter the madness that is the holiday season. Maybe that makes me a scrooge or a Grinch, name me what you will, but the holiday season does nothing more but push me further into my apartment. I’m typically an introverted person to begin with that enjoys the comfort of her own home over being out and about around people, but the holiday season makes people crazy. Not to mention you have Black Friday which is literally the peak of all of the craziness. Yes, stores are crowded around Christmas time but it’s nothing compared to the stories you find around Black Friday. It kills any hope I have in the human race as well because it usually falls after Thanksgiving, which is not what Thanksgiving is about. Four, I don’t like hoodies and I don’t like pumpkin. Pumpkin muffins, yes, but that about does it. I don’t like pumpkin spice lattes, or coffee in general. Hoodies and heavy clothing as a whole make me feel like that kid off A Christmas Story that gets all bundled up. Plus, don’t get me started on jean shopping. Especially at my height, there is literally nothing out there for me. Lastly, there’s school. As much as I love school and I love learning and having something to do aside from working 40 hours a week, school can be stressful. There’s assignments and projects, readings, tests, midterms, finals, you name it. Something the summer typically doesn’t have unless you’re willing to take summer classes.

Say what you will but summer just suits me best. There’s the warm sun and months filled with vacations and traveling – big or small. The worst weather you’ll get is rain and thunderstorms but once they are finished, they don’t stick around like snow. The trees are filled with leaves and become just as happy to see the sun as I am. There’s no holiday rush or remembering to buy this gift or that gift or make this meal at this person’s house. There’s t-shirts and tank tops, shorts and skirts, oh and no pumpkin flavor! If that’s not enough, let’s tack on that summer also means no school!

So if you find that you can’t relate, more power to you. For whatever reason though, I just can’t jump on the wagon when it comes to fall and winter. But if you find you can relate, here’s to you